Formula 1, Sportrik Media - The 2026 Formula 1 season-opening race is set to take place at Albert Park, with the Australian Grand Prix scheduled to start at 17:00 local time in Melbourne. This corresponds to 04:00 GMT in the United Kingdom as the new F1 season officially gets underway.
The front row of the grid will be occupied by the Mercedes duo of pole-sitter George Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli. Both drivers delivered a dominant qualifying performance, securing a commanding front-row lockout for the Brackley-based team.
Behind them, several leading teams are positioned to challenge over the 58-lap race distance. Red Bull Racing driver Isack Hadjar will start from third place, ahead of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and reigning world champion Lando Norris will also line up near the front of the grid, potentially adding further pressure to Mercedes during the race.
With the new 2026 technical regulations placing greater emphasis on energy management, tyre degradation, and race strategy, the opening race of the season is expected to provide the first clear indication of the competitive order across the grid.
2026 F1 Australian Grand Prix Schedule
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, 6 March | 08:30 – 09:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, 6 March | 12:00 – 13:00 |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, 7 March | 08:30 – 09:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, 7 March | 12:00 – 13:00 |
| Race | Sunday, 8 March | 11:00 – 13:00 |
The Australian Grand Prix will run over 58 laps, marking the first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season and offering an early benchmark of team performance under the sport’s latest regulations.
Photo Gallery
Read Also
Mercedes dominance in qualifying for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix exposed a key weakness for Red Bull under the new Formula 1 regulations.
Isack Hadjar targets a podium at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix after qualifying third but admits Mercedes is currently too fast to challenge for victory.
Complete F1 2026 team-mate qualifying head-to-head statistics after the Australian Grand Prix, comparing lap time differences and grid positions.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!